2022 The Hexe

Deep ruby/plum-hued, the 2022 Hexe is based on 40% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 18% Mataro, 16% Graciano, and 6% Petite Sirah, aged 32 months in French oak. Powerful notes of ripe black fruits, plums, peppery herbs, and graphite dominate the bouquet. It's deep, full-bodied, and textured on the palate, with ripe, polished, yet building tannins, no hard edges, and an incredible finish. This powerful, serious, sensational Southern Rhône-like blend will drink well for 15+ years. Drink 2025-2040. I’ve been raving about the wines from Justin Smith’s Saxum estate for close to two decades now, and at times I feel like a broken record. That said, the quality this family consistently delivers is jaw-dropping year after year. I don’t recommend many mailing lists, but this is certainly one to be on. Looking at the 2023s, the wines are brilliant across the board. They reflect the longer, cooler style of the vintage while staying true to form, with serious richness and depth. The 2022s are much more open and expressive, showing the sunny personality of the year. They still have plenty of structure, and I suspect they’ll age beautifully. It’s also worth noting that as Cayucos Ridge continues to come online, Justin is moving more and more toward estate-only fruit. As a result, 2023 will be the final vintage for both Heart Stone and Paderewski. He’s still holding onto a bit of G2 fruit, but we’ll see how long that lasts. At the same time, a new cuvée called The Old Blocks will replace the former Hexe release, although it will no longer include any G2 fruit.

The 2022 Hexe opens with a captivating bouquet of violet candies, confectionary spice, citrus peels and crushed blueberries. Savory notes emerge on the palate, which is silken in feel, with depths of ripe wild berries and crunchy mineral tones energized by juicy acidity. The finish is long and tannic, with gobs of tension, a violet pastille tinge and nuances of tart blackberry that add lovely contrast.